I picked up a Rajah II in AUS-10A and it seems legit. I was able to stab through 50 car hoods, butcher a woolly mammoth, and fight 7 polar bears to the death with only a slight loss in edge retention.
Jimislash ok, ordered from Amazon last night. Will deal with the fall out with my best half after it arrives. Thanks again for the video and encouragement!
I gave this knife away to a kid doing landscaping for me years ago.. i forgot how much i liked it. thanks for this comparison, i just ordered another. cheers
Aus-10 suffers from the same thing 9cr18mov does, a sibling with a bad reputation and a similar sounding name. Aus-10 is a good steel, created to be a direct competitor to vg-10 in performance but at a lower cost. For the money it's worthy. Plus when cold steel switched to cts-bd1 from aus-8 all the internet "steel experts" said it WAS NOT an upgrade, so now it is by definition an upgrade.
My first video of you, and fucking loved when you said, "I'm kidding, if you don't want to see the full video the answer is..." I watched it full and liked
I've been waiting for someone to say something about AUS10. I really liked the CTS-BD1, and how it sharpenened and held an edge. I might have to check out the AUS10. Peace
Jim, I've seen nothing but good reviews on the AUS 10 Spartan. Your video, sealed the deal! Sold!!l From your screen, to my hands... Great video bro!!!
I’ve had a Spartan four years. Currently in CTSBD1 but before that I had two that were the Aus8. Both of Aus8 blades where used fairly heavily and I damaged the blade both times. By damage I mean I took a half nickel/quarter sized chip out of each blade. They were replaced by the cold steel warranty. So I am still on my first cold steel spartan purchase but have had three nights via the warranty. The first chip was earned in Hawaii splitting some kind of local hardwood for fire. The second chip was from chopping up some California brush called “lemon bush” locally, I t’s not hard but very sappy. In both cases the mechanical lock up it’s self was bank vault tight however the blades were completely ruined. My guess is that between the inherent weakness of a hollow grind versus a full flat grind and the budget nature of Aus8 I was just pushing the blades too far. I have chopped through a limb of a SW desert hardwood tree (about 4” diameter) with my BD1 Spartan just to test it and it held up very well. However, with the hollow ground blade, I am less apt to ever use it as aggressively (especially for splitting) as I would a full flat ground blade no matter what the steel type is.
@@Skinnymoose Ummmm… sure? Because I always have a splitting maul or a machete when I’m on vacation surfing in Hawaii 🏄. Dude sometimes you’re just using what you got and what I had was a heavy use knife that taught me the limitations of its hollow ground edges. Any scandi or full flat ground Cold Steel would have been completely fine with what I asked of it.
I have a spyderco endura 4 and matriarch 2 both in vg10 and the rajah 2 in aus10a. The aus10a seems to hold its edge a bit longer and is really easy to sharpen. A ceramic rod freehanded lightly and a nice strop and it pops hairs all day.
I have had knives of "better steels" that have not performed as well. Cold Steel definitely knows how to heat treat every one that I own I can get a wicked edge on.
hi really like that knife is it hard to sharpen the spartan with a spyderco sharpmaker. i dont have any recurve knife so i have 0 experience with them. ty
Oh you just cut the oreo coupon up 🤦🏼♀️bogo I never get that kind of coupons lol! Glad got did this video this is pretty good to know! I’m learning on the differences in Steel, still 😏that uh oh on the BD1 made me nervous 😬
Hi I'm Eleah, I have a cold steel spartan Aus10a from blade HQ a while ago I love it, I think cts bd1 and aus10a are similar in blade performance, cold steel decided to use aus10a because it's easier for them to get I'm just thinking, I just wish they would use it for the SR1 light, I don't really like 8cr13mov, I think aus10a is a better steel for a knife
Spyderco folders would never hold up to this testing; the tips are too delicate and fragile; i broke the tip off my para 3 cutting a rotisserie chicken in half.
Just one more comment.. so I’m thinking this is like a folding table type thing you take into the living room? Is that what the kids eat their cereal on too? 😂 those blades are holding up very well my friend 🙌🏼
@@Jimislash search for Iberian falcata or Greek kopis. They have identical blade shapes and it is believed that they both appeared in the aforementioned regions at the same time. I love my Spartan, it's an impressive, sturdy knife. It's been a while since I told Cold Steel to make a fixed blade version with an eight inch blade. I think it will be something that once you see it you won't forget it.
I picked up a Rajah II in AUS-10A and it seems legit. I was able to stab through 50 car hoods, butcher a woolly mammoth, and fight 7 polar bears to the death with only a slight loss in edge retention.
If you got that on video, you're set for life. That's good TV.
I spit my food out laughing! Good one!
Now that's destruction testing!~
The orange cat is cute. Anyway, I like AUS10A more than CTS-BD1 it seems to retain an edge longer, very close to S30V.
It’s 2 more aus-es than aus8! It must be good!
The spartan is just such a great design! I had to pull mine out and give it some love while watching this video! Sweet video!
Thank you! Yeah, it's one of my favorites. I'm glad I had a reason to get another one. :)
I’ve had a aus10a spartan for 4 months now it’s worked great . I use it quite a bit and hasn’t needed sharpened yet .
There you go! Great!
Thanks. I think this is the first video on cold steel's aus10.
First review I've seen of AUS10. Seems like a pretty good steel! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for watching! It held up great.
Thanks for this review and additional testing footage. Really have been on the fence fir a Spartan a long time.
Oh, if you're on the fence, get one. Having one in hand will be the difference maker.
Jimislash ok, ordered from Amazon last night. Will deal with the fall out with my best half after it arrives. Thanks again for the video and encouragement!
I gave this knife away to a kid doing landscaping for me years ago.. i forgot how much i liked it. thanks for this comparison, i just ordered another. cheers
That was cool of you. It's a beast.
Aus-10 suffers from the same thing 9cr18mov does, a sibling with a bad reputation and a similar sounding name. Aus-10 is a good steel, created to be a direct competitor to vg-10 in performance but at a lower cost. For the money it's worthy. Plus when cold steel switched to cts-bd1 from aus-8 all the internet "steel experts" said it WAS NOT an upgrade, so now it is by definition an upgrade.
Oh, that is interesting. Good call.
My first video of you, and fucking loved when you said, "I'm kidding, if you don't want to see the full video the answer is..." I watched it full and liked
Cool! Thank you for watching it.
I've been waiting for someone to say something about AUS10. I really liked the CTS-BD1, and how it sharpenened and held an edge. I might have to check out the AUS10. Peace
Your cat was probably wondering, what the heck is he doing. Great comparison video, great information. Thanks. Tony
I finally picked up a large tanto voyager and it literally has remain sharp even after my testing, pretty impressed with aus 10a
Yeah, it's a great steel.
Love my Spartan. . Original steel....Pocket carry, knife combat drills and serious backup when out on the trails!
Cold steel aus10 is insane just watch the 4 max scout video test could not kill it. The s35 was breaking over the aus10 it's amazing.
Jim, I've seen nothing but good reviews on the AUS 10 Spartan. Your video, sealed the deal! Sold!!l From your screen, to my hands... Great video bro!!!
Awesome! That's cool!
I'm thinking of getting a bd1 since it's American steel. But I'm on the fence since I know aus10 is probably better
I’ve had a Spartan four years. Currently in CTSBD1 but before that I had two that were the Aus8. Both of Aus8 blades where used fairly heavily and I damaged the blade both times. By damage I mean I took a half nickel/quarter sized chip out of each blade. They were replaced by the cold steel warranty. So I am still on my first cold steel spartan purchase but have had three nights via the warranty. The first chip was earned in Hawaii splitting some kind of local hardwood for fire. The second chip was from chopping up some California brush called “lemon bush” locally, I t’s not hard but very sappy. In both cases the mechanical lock up it’s self was bank vault tight however the blades were completely ruined. My guess is that between the inherent weakness of a hollow grind versus a full flat grind and the budget nature of Aus8 I was just pushing the blades too far.
I have chopped through a limb of a SW desert hardwood tree (about 4” diameter) with my BD1 Spartan just to test it and it held up very well. However, with the hollow ground blade, I am less apt to ever use it as aggressively (especially for splitting) as I would a full flat ground blade no matter what the steel type is.
My guess is you should use the right tool for the Job. A knife isnt a splitting maul or a machete.
@@Skinnymoose Ummmm… sure? Because I always have a splitting maul or a machete when I’m on vacation surfing in Hawaii 🏄. Dude sometimes you’re just using what you got and what I had was a heavy use knife that taught me the limitations of its hollow ground edges. Any scandi or full flat ground Cold Steel would have been completely fine with what I asked of it.
I have a spyderco endura 4 and matriarch 2 both in vg10 and the rajah 2 in aus10a. The aus10a seems to hold its edge a bit longer and is really easy to sharpen. A ceramic rod freehanded lightly and a nice strop and it pops hairs all day.
I love AUS10. It holds up nicely.
Cold Steel has great heat treat. I’d be happy with either one.
It's the +2 AUSses. :)
I have had knives of "better steels" that have not performed as well. Cold Steel definitely knows how to heat treat every one that I own I can get a wicked edge on.
Thats common thing because most of super steels are on lower rc scale (production made knives of course).
Just got mine a week ago. Really love it.
the last cold steel i bought,it was a Voyager xl bowie,it says AUS 10A on the box and it says CTS.BD1 on the blade?
Oh, bummer. I would get in touch with them.
not so easy,i am from Norway
Still shaving belly hair in late 2021 with the Spartan in AUS10A. Also, I have that same TV tray except that is has 9mm holes in it.
Oh, very cool. Cooler than chop marks.
I want a spartan with a 7.5 in blade like the xl espada.
Oooo, that would be cool.
Awesome idea BUT maybe without the recurve (or way less of a recurve)for easier sharpening. For me, a 5 inch or 5.5-inch version would be perfect.
rajah ii might be close to what you want. Its a lot thicker than the espada, and with a recurve. Overbuilt kind of like the spartan.
I wish they did some sprint runs with S35vn with some of these budget models such as these and rajah 2 erc
How would S35VN make this a better knife?
CPM 3V or Zwear PM Steel with DLC coating and I reckon it be awesome if Cold Steel made this version with less of a recurve for ease of sharpening.
hi
really like that knife
is it hard to sharpen the spartan with a spyderco sharpmaker. i dont have any recurve knife so i have 0 experience with them.
ty
That is what I used until I got my KME. I might still go back to it. It's super easy with the Sharpmaker.
ty
I use the worksharp Ken Onion with blade grinding attatchment on mine... works perfect
Is the aus10a spartan resistant to corrosion and rust?
Yes.
Thanks, is it also the case of others cold steel aus10a knives like voyagers?
@@ggdd1335 I am not sure, but I have had the AUS10 Espada in my truck for a couple months. It hasn't shown any rust.
Are the blade shapes 100% the same / identical on both? The false edge on the Aus10 looks a little bit bigger.
The tip to the unbeveled flat area of the blade on the AUS10 is about an eighth of an inch longer, if that makes any sense.
Makes sense yes thanks. I am thinking right now about which one to get.
Ive always wanted the spartan but it looks like it would take up the whole pocket. So ive never picked it up
It is a pants dragger, for sure, but it's awesome. :)
Aus 10A is like VG10 or VG1 per Lynn Thompson
Would you pay a premium for a Spartan with bd1 since it's long discontinued or to search out aus10 only?
No. It's not a real sought after version of that knife, and the AUS10 is much better.
Oh you just cut the oreo coupon up 🤦🏼♀️bogo I never get that kind of coupons lol! Glad got did this video this is pretty good to know! I’m learning on the differences in Steel, still 😏that uh oh on the BD1 made me nervous 😬
Does the aus10 version rust?
Mine hasn't. None of my AUS10 has.
Cuál es mejor spartan aus8 , aus10 o ctb?
AUS10
Bd1 is discontinued so only aus8 or 10a is available which suck so aus8or 10a is worth to buy.
BD1 is way better than its given credit for. I have yet to test Aus10A to see where it stands.
I've test AUS10A a couple times. I like it, a lot.
Hi I'm Eleah, I have a cold steel spartan Aus10a from blade HQ a while ago I love it, I think cts bd1 and aus10a are similar in blade performance, cold steel decided to use aus10a because it's easier for them to get I'm just thinking, I just wish they would use it for the SR1 light, I don't really like 8cr13mov, I think aus10a is a better steel for a knife
Hey Eleah! I wasn't crazy for Cold Steel's BD1. AUS10A seems to hold up a bit better. I would like to see an AUS10 SR1 Lite. That's a great idea.
WTH! You cut up a BOGO coupon for Oreo cookies??? The sacrifices you make for us brother....
And I won't stop, either. I'm a giver.
I need to get a sharpening system that allows me to sharpen recurves
Spyderco sharpmaker. Easiest way to get going on recurve blades in my opinion.
Peter Richards I use the Lansky Turn Box.
Has your cold steel spartan rust?
Never.
Spyderco folders would never hold up to this testing; the tips are too delicate and fragile; i broke the tip off my para 3 cutting a rotisserie chicken in half.
Dang, tough chicken?
@@Jimislash Dang weak tips.
Not the Oreo coupon!!!!!
Spartans !What is your profession? Destroy everything !! Great comparison both equally efficient at their job.
I mean the AUS series of steel is Japanese.
Is aus10a cheap steel?
No. It's great steel. Anybody saying different is a moron.
they look very cool!
Love that AUS10A!
A knife I will pass down to my son one day... OR he will find one day after I'm gone in boxes and boxes of knives that will have been hidden away
Boxes of knives will be fun to find.
Just one more comment.. so I’m thinking this is like a folding table type thing you take into the living room? Is that what the kids eat their cereal on too? 😂 those blades are holding up very well my friend 🙌🏼
Exactly. Just a solid wood TV tray. They did well.
This makes me think if some steels are really hype?
Maybe not hype, but unnecessary at the level most people use their knives.
Cold Steel rules !
I think the 10a is tougher than cts.
A knife made in the shape of a falçata, what is not to like! 😍
I Googled "falcata." I couldn't find anything like it.
@@Jimislash the reason they called it the spartan because the falcata is one of the swords they used
@@Jimislash search for Iberian falcata or Greek kopis. They have identical blade shapes and it is believed that they both appeared in the aforementioned regions at the same time. I love my Spartan, it's an impressive, sturdy knife. It's been a while since I told Cold Steel to make a fixed blade version with an eight inch blade. I think it will be something that once you see it you won't forget it.
Can you run a marathon with this knive? And can you jump of a mountain with it? Please can you test that too for us? 😜
BTW great knive and review. 😎
Lol...No marathon. And only one mountain jump test.
I'm not scared of change, Clowns, Different story.
But that's a rational fear.
1 hundred cuts later.......
(As SpongeBob narrator)
Lol!
Man! You’re really destroying that tray!!!! Lol :)
A lot of frustration. :)
Oh wait! I think I won one of these 🥳💁🏼♀️🙌🏼
Yes, you did. :)
@@Jimislash freaking awesome!!! Christmas is coming again 😁
Good review. Ugly knives.
Voyager xl tanto all the way 😎
Sexy Sparti!